Ripple
Grateful Dead
If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung
Would you hear my voice come through the music
Would you hold it near as it were your own?
It’s a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken
Perhaps they’re better left unsung
I don’t know, don’t really care
Let there be songs to fill the air
Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow
Reach out your hand if your cup be empty
If your cup is full may it be again
Let it be known there is a fountain
That was not made by the hands of men
There is a road, no simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night
And if you go no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone
Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow
You who choose to lead must follow
But if you fall you fall alone
If you should stand then who’s to guide you?
If I knew the way I would take you home
Lyrics submitted by itsmyownmind
Ripple Lyrics as written by Robert C. Hunter Jerome J. Garcia
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
44 Comments
General CommentIncredible song. Jerry really helps bring the lyrics to life. Long live the king.
«There is a road, no simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night
And if you go no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone»
This part of the song is incredible; the whole song gives a freedom of choice, walk your own path, existentialist kind of feel, and I think this part is one of the most interesting and accurate interpritations of life in a lyric form. Genius.
General CommentTo me this song means:
That every individual is on a “path” of their own as they go through life; and every individual must interpret life and its meaning for themselves. No choice.
Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow
…means life’s meaning will come out of nowhere, in your mind and consciousness, in other words from the fountain not made by the hands of man.
The songwriter is saying he/she would like to define life’s meaning and path, but he/she cannot, and it’s best you figure it out on your own, and in the end, that’s how it will happen anyhow…with the help of the fountain and the ripple without a cause.
It’s like a parent or significant other squaring with you and saying that they love you, but…for the deep stuff…you have to figure it out for yourself.
The song also says if someone thinks they have the answer or answers for others as a leader, well, they only have the answers for themselves.
The song is about the deep personal stuff.
I love the clarity of this song.
General Commentwhile its tough to pull a direct meaning out of the song, i believe this song is about death in a round-about way. its more about passing from life to the after life. in this verse:
There is a road, no simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night
And if you go no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone
he talks of a road between light and dark and the road is not one that anyone can follow you on.
Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow
he omens to what i would call an ‘otherwolrdly’ presence, a ripple in still water, with no stone thrown or wind blowing.
just my thoughts, as previously stated, this would be a wonderful song to have played at a funeral, a great way to remember a loved one, a ripple in still water.
General CommentIf my words did glow with the gold of sunshine
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung
Would you hear my voice come through the music
Would you hold it near as it were your own?
Hypothetical question
could words be magical glowing with. gold and power of the sun
and you can’t get that tune out of your head
or the words that get stuck in your head
and soon it is like the words are your own
It’s a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken
Perhaps they’re better left unsung
I don’t know, don’t really care
Let there be songs to fill the air
The words are not yours they break your own thought
maybe it is better if this wasn’t sung
but he doesn’t know or care
so do as though wilt
Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow
there is a dead body in the water sinking
air bubbles floating to the top
don’t need wind or pebbles for that
Reach out your hand if your cup be empty
If your cup is full may it be again
Let it be known there is a fountain
That was not made by the hands of men
This is the sacrifice for nothing is for free in the world.
But the fountain of wealth you fill your cup from does not come from man.
There is a road, no simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night
And if you go no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone
There are certain steps you must take
to part the veil of dark and light
no one can do it for you
for it must be of your own freewill
You who choose to lead must follow
But if you fall you fall alone
If you should stand then who’s to guide you?
If I knew the way I would take you home
when you make that choice of your own freewill
then you must follow the lead of the one who guides you
If you fail you will die alone
If it was up the writer they would guide you
but they do not have that knowledge nor ability
hmmm maybe I should make my comments rhyme?
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